Just a Little Bit of Love, Barrels, and Horses

Chapter 16

I was so nervous for my date with Alec. I put gel in my hair and wore my best jeans. I wore my UBRA champion T-shirt, and my best cowgirl hat. It was black with a gold band around it. I gave Dakotah and magic a bath and polished my tack. I hosed off my bell boots and boots. I wore my wonder struck perfume by taylor swift. And then I waited.

2 hours later....

I had magic in one hand and Dakotah in the other and jake comes. "Hey hot stuff," he shouts smiling.

"Right back at ya shorty," I laugh. He scowled. He was only 5'7 I was an inch shorter than him.

"Want me to hold one of your horse for ya?" He asks me.

"Yeah. That would be nice. Here take Dakotah," I say handing Dakotah to him. I go up to his trailer with magic and I point and I make liaising noises urging him to go in. Once I feel that he's going in I un-clip the lead rope. He goes into the trailer and I step in and close the gate. I do the same with Dakotah.

"Wow," jake says.

"What?" I ask.

"I wish I could to that with my horse. I have to step into the trailer for her to go in," he explains.

"That's not a bad thing," I say shrugging my shoulders. He just smiles and shakes his head.

"What?" I laugh.

"Nothing," he says trying to hold back a laugh.

"No, seriously what?" I ask.

"It's just, I never really understood why guys threw themselves at you. I mean don't get me wrong you're gorgeous, but when I first met you I knew you were a piece of work," he begins. I punch his shoulder playfully. "Anyways, I realized why. When I saw you and well you know who I realize that that was your way of guarding your heart. I mean you are stubborn as a mule, brutally honest, and punch like a man, but other than that you were cool. When you get in that saddle and into that arena there is no turning back with you. You run your heart out and when you cross that time line you have the biggest smile on your face. I realized why my brother liked you so much," he said.

If I had water I would've spit it out. "What?!" I ask in astonishment.

"Yeah he was practically scrambling preparing for this date," he chuckles.

"Why did you bring Dakotah?" He asks.

"Alec is gonna ride him and I'm going to drive his truck," I state. He was drinking Dr.Pepper and he spit it out.

"What?!" He practically yells. "He's letting you drive his truck?" He asks.

"Yep," I say popping the p.

"You're lying," he says

"Nope pure and utter truth," I say.

"Wow he really likes you," he says. "He doesn't even let me drive his fricking truck. And I'm 16 damn it," he mutters. I laughed so hard at that. "Shut up," he mumbles. When we get to his place I was astonished. It was a White House that was gorgeous and had a red barn with a fine arena. I was jealous. I hopped out of the truck and let Dakotah out first. She hopped out all by herself and stood there waiting for me to clip the lead rope. I gave her to jake and got magic. It went just as smoothly and I took them both and tied them to a tying post. Alec came out of the house and ran his hand through his hair.

"You look nice," he says.

"Thanks you too," I say.

"Ready to ride?" He asks.

"Yep let's ride," I say. I saddle up magic and Alec saddles up Dakotah. We both go to the arena and I set up the poles first. I get on Dakotah and I give magic to Alec. "I'll show ya how it's done," I say. After I warm him up outside of the arena I get her in the chute. He's crow-hopping and I hold him back. I cluck my tongue and he's off. He goes through the poles with ease and he's going full speed. Once I run back I kick him twice. He was going so fast I thought I was flying. When I passed the time line I looked at Alec. His jaw was dropped.

"Wow. That was a 17.314," he says clearly shocked.

"Yes! Personal best! Good boy!" I say while patting her neck. "Ready to ride?" I ask him.

"As ready as I'll ever be," he says.

"Just let him go. He knows the pattern so well you can let of of the reins and hang on to the saddle horn and he will do it perfectly. Trust me I've done it," I say getting off.

"Okay," he says. He gets on Dakotah and trots circles getting him used to him. Then when he gets into the chute he starts to crow-hop.

"Christ," he says.

"It's okay he does that. It's normal," I say encouraging him.

"Hey," jake says.

"Hey," I say.

"I think you got my brother crapping his pants. I saw your run. That horse can run," he says.

"Thanks. I don't think your brothers horse does this?" I ask him.

He scoffs. "No. Mine does but trigger doesn't. Your horse is really high strung when he gets into the chute," he comments.

"He started doing this when he was 8 and he's 10 now. But yeah he is. He only does it when he gets into the shoot though," I comment.

"I think he's going for it," jake says. I videotape while jake times. When I see Dakotah run through that chute I knew there was no stopping him. Alec was hanging onto the saddle horn for dear life and Dakotah was just weaving through those poles. Jake was clutching his stomach because he was laughing so hard. When he crossed the time line jake looked at the time 18.413. That's good considering Alec didn't do anything. Jake was still laughing.

"McKenna there is something wrong with your horse, Alec said.

"No these something wrong with you," jake said.

"Why?" Alec asked confused.

"You looked like you were crapping your pants when Dakotah was weaving through those poles," jake said chuckling.

"Hey that horse was booking it. There was no stopping him. McKenna you are only 13 and you can control him?" Alec asks me.

"Yeah. You just gotta use both hands," I say matter of factly.

"You don't use the saddle horn?" Alec asks in disbelief.

"Nope," I say. "And guess what time it is?" I ask.

"What?" Alec asks.

"Barrel racing time," I say excited.